San Sebastian College- Recoletos Manila

2114-A Claro M. Recto Avenue Brgy 390 Zone 040 Quiapo,

Manila, Philippines 1001
Senior High School Department

The Influence of Colonial Mentality to the Filipino Youth on

Studying Philippine Literature

By:

Alimorong, Julianna Lois D.

Date Submitted:

September 10, 2021

 San Sebastian College- Recoletos Manila
2114-A Claro M. Recto Avenue Brgy 390 Zone 040 Quiapo,
Manila, Philippines 1001
Senior High School Department

Introduction:

Numerous Filipinos distance themselves from their Filipino heritage as a result of the
colonial mentality, which recognizes Filipino cultural inferiority. Colonial mentality is a
mindset or concept generally used by ethnic studies intellectuals and the Filipino
American citizens to describe this type of internalized oppression within and between
Filipinos and Filipino Americans. Philippine literature is a creative writing connected with
our country from prehistoric times to the 21st century, including western colonialism.
Therefore, it is essential to study Philippine literature because it portrays a residing
language. And Philippine literature incorporates real life situations from the youth's
environment with a view into the featured literary works. This brings us to issues such as
environmental awareness, peace education, and etc.

Our country is still dealing with an old-age issue and concern about sustaining the
interest in knowing literature. Filipino literature is a topic that is very valuable to the Filipino
people. This is a gem given to us by our ancestors; however, in today's society, Filipino
youth remain opposed. According to Antonio (2015), Filipino youth ignore literature. The
said generation is losing interest in literature. Because of colonial mentality, this
generation has lost interest in their own cultural roots. Assimilation of other cultures is
constantly rising and expanding throughout the country.

Colonial mentality infiltrated our minds and ran deep, affecting our Filipino culture,
practices, and traditions. But nevertheless, global and local socioeconomic and political
formations have continued to sustain the country's symbolic dominance of English (Tupas
2008a). The democracy of language throughout the Philippines revolves not only around
English, Filipino, and the other Philippine languages or mother tongues, but also around
the principles, beliefs, mindsets, and competing visions of country that are associated
with these languages. English, as a colonial language, must be opposed because it
represents "miseducation”; The anti-colonial language, Tagalog-based Filipino, must
suppress English on behalf of all other local languages in order to make way for reclaiming
our rights to our own texts, cultures, and traditions, as well as for the growth and
development of our Philippines Literature.
 San Sebastian College- Recoletos Manila
2114-A Claro M. Recto Avenue Brgy 390 Zone 040 Quiapo,
Manila, Philippines 1001
Senior High School Department

Review of Related Literature:

Philippine literature is a diverse and rich collection of writings that have evolved
alongside the country's history. Long before the arrival of Spanish and American
influence, fables and legends were created by the ancient Filipinos. The major points of
Philippine literature are the country's pre-colonial cultural traditions, as well as the political
and social histories of its colonial and contemporary traditions. It is no surprise that many
Filipinos and Filipino Youths are unfamiliar with much of the country's literacy heritage,
particularly those written long before the arrival of the Americans and Spaniards.

Even during the last 20 years, when the nationalist campaign against English was at
its height, Filipino creative writers have continued to write in English. Even those who
strongly advocate the use of Tagalog (or Tagalog-based Pilipino) as the sole medium of
creative expression and, thus, the rejection of a foreign language, have written
extensively in English. Today, several major Filipino writers publish in both English and
Tagalog. Some authors write in both English and their native tongues.

These bilingual authors are descended from a long line of Filipinos who wrote in both
their native and second languages. As a result of the large number of individual literary
works that can be said to shed some light on the phenomenon of bilingualism in creative
writing, it is not possible to conduct a comprehensive survey of writing accomplished by
bilingual or multilingual writers at this period. It is more manageable to concentrate on the
poetry of representative writers.

Apparently, the Filipinos' colonial experience has defined how heritage is treated and
preserved. In the case of the Philippines, the colonial capitalist character that served as
the primary reason for colonial expansion has greatly influenced the colony's approaches
to heritage conservation. As a result, the colonial legacy has established a precedent that
destroys old practices, ways of life, structures, and edifices in order to favor the creation
of a new set of world orders, establishing a culture of neglect and disregard for cultural
heritage conservation.

The upsurge of nationalistic pride in the 1960s and 1970s also contributed to this shift
in attitude among a new generation of Filipinos concerned about "Filipino Identity."
 San Sebastian College- Recoletos Manila
2114-A Claro M. Recto Avenue Brgy 390 Zone 040 Quiapo,
Manila, Philippines 1001
Senior High School Department

Philippine literature is written in Spanish, English, Tagalog, and other indigenous

Philippine languages. Therefore, it is essential to study our country's literary works
because we are not only learning about traditional aspects, but we are also keeping alive
our ancestors' thoughts, beliefs, and cultural variations that distinguish our country from
the rest of the world.

Analysis on the Review of Related Literature:

Nowadays, Filipinos are adopting every Western culture and colonial influence.
Literature is largely ignored by Filipino youth. The previous mentioned generation has lost
interest in the subject. This generation has stopped being interested in their own heritage
as a result of colonial mentality.

The colonization established a precedent that destroys traditional practices, lifestyles,

systems, and edifices in order to encourage the creation of the new set of world orders,
maintaining a culture of neglect and ignore for the preservation of Philippine literature.

In this research, it tells the people or Filipino youth that it is always essential to study
their country's literature. By doing so, they are not only learning about their country's
history, but they are also preserving their ancestors' thoughts, beliefs, and cultural
variations that set their country apart from the rest of the world.

Conclusion:

With a view into the featured literary works, Philippine literature incorporates real life
situations from the youth's environment. This brings us to topics like environmental
awareness, peace education, and so on. This is a treasure bestowed upon us by our
forefathers; however, in today's society, Filipino youth remain opposed. This generation
has stopped being interested in their own native culture as a result of colonial mentality.
It's no wonder that many Filipinos and Filipino Youths are unfamiliar with much of the
country's literacy heritage, especially those written years before the arrival of the
Americans and Spaniards.
 San Sebastian College- Recoletos Manila
2114-A Claro M. Recto Avenue Brgy 390 Zone 040 Quiapo,
Manila, Philippines 1001
Senior High School Department

Philippine literature allows us to enter the minds of the authors. We can see their
thoughts and ideas and merge with them. They also could manipulate the minds of the
reader through their style of writing or the flow of their literary works. We will be able to
appreciate them and their abilities as Filipino authors if we read more local works. We
could even learn from them and become authors ourselves by reading and developing
our critical thinking skills.

Our own literature provides us with incredible power. We gain the ability to preserve,
to create and influence, and to share. Local literary works are irreplaceable treasures that
retain their value and continue to inspire even after centuries. And as we learn more about
them, we'll be able to share the authors' legacy and persuade our fellow Filipinos to study
Philippine literature as well.